Shepherdstown Town Council talks unexpected Market House renovation cost, new member appointment | News, Sports, Jobs

Shepherdstown property owner Ashley Reynolds speaks before the Town Council in Town Hall on April 9. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Over a time span of three hours, the town council of the Corporation of Shepherdstown discussed a number of concerns during its monthly meeting in on April 9.

Among those concerns was the need to appoint a new town council member to fill a vacant position. According to Mayor James Gatz, four Shepherdstown residents have submitted letters of interest to be considered for the position: Carrie Blessing, Nancy Stewart, Jay Thomas and Greg Walter. The council agreed with Gatz to hold interviews with the applicants at a later date to determine which one would be the best fit for the position.

Two volunteer appointments were unanimously approved by the town council, including Shepherdstown resident Phil Baker-Shenk, who was appointed to serve as Shepherdstown’s representative on the Jefferson County Development Authority Board of Directors.

“Phil will be a great representative on this board of directors,” Gatz said, noting he believed Baker-Shenk would be up to the task of advocating for businesses to open in Shepherdstown, due to his four decades of experience working as a lobbyist and attorney for Native American tribal governments.

Shepherdstown property owner Ashley Reynolds was appointed to fill the one vacancy on the Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC). She comes to the HLC with prior experience working with them, which led to her interest in joining the organization.

“I am in the process of renovating my family’s historic home in the Corporation of Shepherdstown on Mill Street. As I have worked with the HLC to understand Shepherdstown’s guidelines on historical rehabilitation . . . I have learned a lot about the documentation and processes involved,” Reynolds, who is an accountant, said. “Additionally, in my career I have worked with various nonprofit organizations, whose missions focus on historic preservation, such as the White House Historical Association and the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, which has given me insight into the monitoring of these guidelines from an oversight perspective.”

The council also unanimously approved a request from Rotary Club of Shepherdstown member Peter Smith to hold the annual Fourth of July Parade on German Street.

Three requests for financial support were also approved, totaling $4,000. A trip led by Shepherdstown resident Teresa Holmes for local students to Black Policy Day in Charleston, costing $1,500, was agreed to be funded.

Annual dues for the town to remain a member of the Canal Town Partnership, costing $500, was approved. A $2,000 funding request from Jefferson County Parks & Recreation for its annual Fourth of July fireworks display at Sam Michaels Park was also approved.

Recent repair work on the sidewalk at the home of Allen Meske and Teresa Saunders-Meske, located at 206 E. High St., was completed. The council approved payment $2,084.60 of the $10,423 bill submitted to the town in accordance with its Sidewalk Repair Cost-Sharing program.

The council also discussed the town’s budgetary issues. According to Christopher Longerbeam, CPA, the Corporation of Shepherdstown currently has a $37,123 deficit, up from last month’s deficit of $16,000. He said that $20,000 in this month’s deficit was due to costs incurred from the work being done on the property willed to the town by the late Jay Hurley. He also noted that the two-year, $261,000 Market House restoration project had cost $50,000 more than anticipated.

Anderson and Town Administrator Gino Sisco both agreed that the town will likely see the deficit disappear before the end of the fiscal year, with the reception of funds from the sales tax and Hotel/Motel Tax.

Gatz pushed for one major change to be adopted by the council — a Town Council Meeting Policy similar to the one followed in Charles Town.

“This is not an ordinance, just written procedure,” Gatz said, noting he believed it would help the meetings run smoothly and efficiently.